Clarke College is a Catholic, co-educational, liberal arts institution. Founded in 1843 by Mary Frances Clarke, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), it is the only BVM College in the United States.

Clarke's fall 2005 total enrollment of 1,246 students includes students from 27 states, Puerto Rico and 9 foreign countries. The average ACT score of the 2005 freshman class is 23 and their average 2004 high school grade point average is 3.23.

Clarke is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, the National Association of Schools of Music, The National League for Nursing, the Council on Social Work Education, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in association with the Joint Review Committee on Athletic Training.